Pope Francis’ health has taken a positive turn, with the Vatican announcing on Friday that his condition is no longer critical. The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for the past two weeks, battling pneumonia in both lungs.
According to a Vatican source, “the critical phase has passed, for the moment,” although the pope’s overall condition “remains complex” and his prognosis is still “reserved.”*
The Vatican has reported gradual improvements in the pope’s health over the past few days. On Monday, it announced a “slight improvement,” followed by a “critical but stable” condition on Tuesday. By Wednesday, the Vatican reported a “further, slight improvement,” and on Thursday, it confirmed that “the Holy Father’s clinical condition continues to improve.”
Prognosis Still Cautious
Despite these positive developments, the Vatican has maintained a cautious tone regarding the pope’s prognosis. Medical experts have warned that Francis’ age and chronic respiratory condition mean that a full recovery could take time.”Given the complexity of the clinical picture, further days of clinical stability are necessary before the prognosis can be resolved,” the Vatican said on Thursday.
Francis has continued to work from the hospital, where he is staying in a special papal suite on the 10th floor. The Vatican reported that he has been doing breathing exercises between periods of rest and prayer.This hospital stay is the fourth of his nearly 12-year papacy and the longest to date. In recent years, Francis has undergone colon surgery and a hernia operation, while persistent knee and hip pain have left him reliant on a wheelchair.
There has been speculation about whether Francis might resign, particularly given his packed schedule during preparations for the upcoming Holy Jubilee year.
“If the pope recovers, many believe he will want to complete the Jubilee year. However, once he turns 89, he may face the question of whether to resign,” Italian Vatican expert Marco Politi told AFP.